By
Alex Smith |
Marine water and waste management system provider Evac is introducing new antimicrobial materials for toilet seats and push buttons onboard cruise ships.
The seats and pushbuttons will be made from urea-formaldehyde (UF) and acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) plastic that has been impregnated with a silver compound approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Silver ions interact with the bacteria, rendering them incapable of reproduction, while the strength of the UF plastic helps to prevent scratches which can harbour microbes. According to tests carried out by the company, the material reduces the presence of bacteria by up to 99.99 per cent.
The new material will be available as standard on all Evac Optima 5 and Optima 5S vacuum toilets from January 2022. There is also an option to retrofit these on existing vessels, either as seat covers and pushbuttons within cabins or for high-traffic areas such as public toilets. In addition, there is an autoflush option which can give a completely touch-free operation and features the same antimicrobial material in case there is any physical contact.
“This is a sustainable solution which reduces the source of the infection on toilet visits,” said Lauri Aalto, product line manager at Evac. “It makes it easier for owners to show they are taking clear actions to improve passenger safety. From the passengers’ perspective, there is extra peace of mind, because the benefits are easy to understand. I hope the cruise industry can convey these benefits to create greater confidence amongst passengers.”